Cleaning attachment for player instruments.



P. FRENCH. y CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR .PLAYER INSTRUMENTS.-

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20.y i914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

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CLEANNG- ATTACHMENT SFOR PLAYER INSTRUMENTS.

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useful lmprovements `in Cleaning Attachments for- Player Instruments, of which the following is a specification. V

My invention relates to improved cleaning attachment for player instruments,csuch.

as player pianos, organs or the like. c

In 'such player instruments suction is depended upon as al motive force for the var-ious playing and regulating pneumatics, the flow of air being controlled bythe passage of a perforated music sheet overa y board, in the wellknown manner. The air rushing intol the tracker board and through the various ducts, compartments, and pneumatic devices when the music` sheet perforations register with the tracker board open-,

ings, 'carries with it dust, dirt andV lint from the musicsheet and lsuch dust'and lint will eventually tend: to lclog up the passageways and vent openings. Crude methods and apparatus have been used for cleaning out the pneumatic systems, ordinary f suction hand pumps provided with a tool havingbeen re.-v

sorted to, the tool beingy applied to: the tracker board openings while the pump was operated, the intention having been to draw the dust out of the system back through the tracker board openings. c v

lThe important objectrof my invention is therefore to provide anefticientcleaning attachment permanently associated with' the instrument and the player mechanism therein and for such cleaning attachment l preferably utilize the pedal or power controlled feeder bellows or power suction.` motor for providing eficient suction. As such feeder. bellows or power suction motor are also con-` 1 nected with a pneumatic motor for driving the spools controlling the passage of. thev music sheet over the tracker boaryd,aiidasy it is desirable to disconnect the motor duringcleaning operations, vanother object of Vmy invention is to provide valve mechanism for automatically disconnecting the motor when the cleaning attachment is utilized.

Another object of the invention `is to simplify the `use ofthe cleaning ymechanism in order that'any person vcanreadily and eliicientlyuse the same, and'forthispurpose I f provide yimproved and simplified ,valvefp mechanism which is normally set so as not c `Specification of Lettersvatent. Aiipneation sied May 2o, 19,14. serial No. 839,667.

tracker Patented July 6, 1915.

to interfere ywith the ordinary playing operation of the instrument, but which is automatically set,y by the mere insertion of a plug, to effect control of the automatic valve mechanism to disconnect the motor and to connect the suction source directly with the inserted plug and with a tube extending therefrom and terminating in a cleaning tool whichcan be passed back and forth over the tracker board openings to Vthus effect cleaning of the system.

, rlhe various features of the invention are clearly illustrated on the ,accompanying sheet of drawings in which p Figure l is a diagrammatic lay out of the well known player mechanism parts, and my yimproved cleaning attachment applied thereto, Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the plug controlled valve mechanism, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on plane 3`-3, Fig. E2,l Fig. 4 is a side elevational view ofy the plug controlled mechanism, when. the valve mechanism isin normal position, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional 4view on plane 5 5, Fig. 4, showing the plug inserted and the vvalve mechanism set for cleaning operation. c

Referring to l, B diagrammatically represents bellows which may be driven by foot or by a motor or which could be an electrically driven suction device. A dial grammatically represents the action including the key actuating pneumatics, regulating pneumatics, etc., ythis action being. connected by a duct a with the-suction feeder B. C represents the spool box in which the tracker board T is arranged between the winding and re-winding spools S and S', respectively. M represents the motor for controlling the operation of the spools and the passage of a music sheet over thetracker board whose openings o are. connected by ducts cl with the key controlling pneumatics ofthe-action A.

The invention contemplates the provision y ofv a plug barrel l() adapted for connection with the suction feeders'v and adapted to rel ceive a plug 11 with which a cleaning tool t is connected by a flexible conductor 12, the

tool being passed back and forth over the tracker board to communicate with the openings o .therein in order to withdrawthe dust anddirt from the system. Ordinarily the motorM'rwould be connected directly with yiio the suction "source B but in order to 'disconnect the motor during cleaning operations so that the entire suction can be utilized for cleaning, I provide a valve structure V. As shown, this structure comprises a tube 13 closed at its upper and lower ends by caps 14 and 15, respectively, and having an inner partition 16 to form upper and lower chambers 17 and 18. The suction source B is connected with the chamber 18 by a duct b, the chamber 17 being connected b y duct c with the motor M. An inner tube 19 is supported by the partition 16 and serves under certain conditions to afford communication between chambers 17 and 18. However, the cap 14 supports a diaphragm 20 carrying the valve 21 which under certain conditions is adapted to close the upper outlet of the tube 19 to thus disconnect the chambers 17 and 18, a spring 22 tending to hold the valve away from the tube. In order to control the operation of the automatic valve V valve mechanism c is provided in the plug barrel 10 to be controlled by the plug 11. Extending from and communicating with the plug barrel 10 is a nipple 23 which is connected by a conductor 24 with the compartment 18 of the automatic valve V. The valve sleeve 25 is reciprocable within the plug barrel and its inner end has the tongue 2G which extends through the slot 27 in the barrel 10, a

spring 28 connecting between the tongue and the escutcheon plate 29 from which barrel 10 extends, tending to hold the valve sleeve forwardly in the barrel and in position `to be engaged by the tubular plug 11 to be shifted rearwardly when the plug is inserted in the barrel 10. The valve sleeve 25 has the partition 30 which with the closed end 31 of the sleeve forms the valve chamber 32, a nipple 33 extending from the end wall 31 being connected by conductor 34 with the diaphragm chamber 35 formed between the cap 14 and the diaphragm 20 in the valve V. The valve chamber 32 has the port 36 adapted to communicate with the nipple 23 when the valve sleeve is in forward position as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4, such port leaving the nipple 23 and coming into register with the atmosphere port 37 when the valve sleeve has been shifted rearwardly by the plug 11, Fig. 5. The front valve chamber 38 with which the inserted plug connects has a port 39 which is closed by the barrel 10 when the plug is withdrawn but which registers with the suction inlet nipple 23 when the plug is inserted, Fig. 5.

In order to lock the plug in the barrel against the force of spring 28, a bayonet lock `is preferably provided, the plug having the pin 40 extending therefrom and the barrel 10 having the bayonet slot 41, the plate 39 being slotted at 42 to allow passage of the pin 40 therethrough. The tool t shown comprises a plate 43 from which the fitting 44 extends, the plate 43 supporting a block 45 preferably faced with leather 46.

From the above description the operation is apparent. Under normal conditions the valve sleeve 25 is held forward by the spring 28 and conductors 24 and 34 are in communication through port 36 and chamber 32. r1`he chamber 18 and the diaphragm chamjber 35 of the automatic valve V are then both connected with the suction source B and the pressure is equal at the opposite sides of the diaphragm 20, valve 21 being therefore held above the tube 19 by the spring 22. Chamber 17 is also connected with the suction source and the motor M is connected for service. When the plug is inserted (Fig. 5) port 36 is disconnected from conductor 24 and when the port registers with the atmosphere port 37, the valve chamber 32 and the diaphragm chamber 35 will be under atmosphere pressure. Chamber 18 and the interior tube 19 being still under vacuum, the diaphragm 2O will be actuated and valve 21 caused to close the tube 19 to thereby disconnect the chamber 17 from the suction source and to disconnect the motor M. The suction source B is then connected only with the valve chamber 38 through port 39 and with the tool t connected with the plug. The tool is then shifted back and forth over the trackerl board and the dust, lint and other accumulation will be sucked into the device B. Thus by merely inserting the plug in an opening a cleaning tool is connected with the suction source and the entire suction is available for the cleaning tool and very rapid and ehcient cleaning can be accomplished. It is unnecessary to actuate any valves, levers, or the like as the motor is cut out entirely automatically when the plug is inserted. When the plug is withdrawn normal conditions are restored and the motor is again operative.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the escutcheon plate 29 of the plug valve mechanism secured to the upper wall e of the spool box C, while in Fig. 2 the escutcheon plate is shown secured in vertical position to the spool box. It is evident, of course, that the plate could be applied in other positions in order that the plug can be accurately and conveniently inserted. It is also evident that different kinds of cleaning tools could be connected with the plug and utilized for cleaning other parts of the instrument, as for example the key-board, to draw out the dust which is apt to accumulate on and between the keys.

I do not desire to be limited to the exact constructions and arrangements shown, and I claim the following:

1. In combination with a player instrument comprising a suction producing device and a pneumatic device normally connected therewith, of a cleaning attachment, means for connecting such cleaning attachment with the suction producing device, and

means for automatically disconnecting said v pneumatic device from the suction producing device upon connection of said cleaning device therewith.

2. In combinationk with a player instrument comprising a suction producing device and a pneumatic device normally connected therewith, `of a pneumatic cleaning attachment, means for connecting said cleaning attachment with the suction producing device,

and valve mechanism for automatically disconnecting saldpneumatic device from said suction producing device kupon connection of the cleaning attachment with the suction producing device.

3. The combination with a suction player instrument comprising a suction producing i ment comprising a suction producing device and a normally operative pneumatic device, of a cleaning attachment normally discounected from said suction producing device,

a valve for controlling theconnection of said attachment with the suction producing device, and means controlled by the operation of said valve for automatically'rendering said pneumatic device inoperative.

5. In combination with a player instrument comprising a suction producing device and player mechanism adapted to be driven thereby, of a pneumatic cleaning conductor connected with said suction producing device, a plug. adapted forinsertion in said conductor and a vcleaning tool connected with said plug, and valve mechanism actuated by the insertion of the plug to connect the tool with the cleaning conductor.

6. Incombination with a suction player instrument comprising a suction producing device and a pneumatic device to be operated thereby, of a conductor leading from said suction producing device, a cleaning tool and means for connecting it with the inlet of said conductor, a controlling valve interposed in said conductor and normally closing the inlet thereof, an automatic valve structure connected `with said suction producing device and with said pneumatic device, an atmosphere connection with said yautomatic valve controlled by said controlling valve and normally closed thereby, said automatic valve during closure of said atmosphere connection being controlled by suction to eect communication between the suction producing device and said pneumatic device, and means controlled by the connection of said tool with said conductor to shift said controlling valve to open the conductor inlet to the tool and to open the atmosphere connection, and means whereby opening of the atmosphere connection will e'ect disconnection of the pneumatic device from the suction producing device.

7. A pneumatic cleaning attachment for suction player instruments comprising a valve structure, a conductor leading from said valve structure for connecting said structure with the instrument suction producing device, the valve of said structure being normally closed, a cleaning tool and means for connecting it with said `valve structure, and means controlled by the connection of the tool with the structure for effecting opening of the valve.

8. A cleaner attachment for player instruments vhaving a suction producing element comprising a plug barrel, a valve within said barrel, a conductor leading from said plug barrel to the suction producing element, said valve normally closing the inlet to said conductor, a plug adapted to oe inserted in said barrel to coperate with the valve to effect opening of the conductor inlet, and a cleaning tool connected with said plug.

9. Inasuction player instrument, the combination of a suction producing device, a pneuconnecting the pneumatic device with the suction producing device, a conductor leading from said suction producing device, a cleaning` tool and connecting means for connecting it with said conductor, a controlling valve interposed in the path of connection of said connecting means with said conductor, said valve being normally in position to close the conductor and shifted upon connection of the connecting means with the conductor to connect the conductor with the connecting means and tool, and pressure controlling means for said main valvecontrolled upon shifting of the controlling valve to change the pressure conditions of the main valve to eii'ect disconnection thereby of the pneumatic device from the suction producing device.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of May, A. D., 1914.

' PERCIVAL B. FRENCH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, EDMUND G. INGERSOLL;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

y matic device, a main valve structure normally 

